USNTDP‘s 2nd year left wing Austin Baker(9) is big enough and scores decently to earn himself a Detroit Red Wings‘ 7th round pick in the 2024 draft (#203 overall) and will take his game to a 2024/2025 commit at Michigan State University Spartans.
USNTDP‘s 2nd year goaltender Nicholas Kempf(31) commits to University Of Notre Dame Fighting Irish for 2024/2025.
The 6’2″ 191 lbs. net minder didn’t exactly do too well through juniors.
We think mostly he was scouted during his youth time with Chicago Mission 13-15U and think come college he returns to that form.
Washington Capitals see something, as they select him in the 4th round of 2024 NHL draft (#114 overall).
USNTDP 2nd year right wing Brodie Ziemer(2) ran up 35 goals, 94 points and a +54 rating last season to be selected by Buffalo Sabres in the 3rd round of the 2024 draft (#71 overall).
The 5’11” 196 lbs. forward is set to go to University Of Minnesota Golden Golphers for 2024/2025.
From Carver, MN, the 18-year old is essentially staying at home for school.
Buffalo Sabres‘ 3rd round pick in the 2016 draft (#86 overall), defenseman Casey Fitzgerald(4) scores a 1st NHL recall and skates a full slate of 27 shifts for 16:42 of ice time and was busy with 2 shots, 5 hits, 2 takeaways, an assist and 5 minutes for fighting, but leaves an overtime loss with a +1 rating.
The 5’11” 181 lbs., former two-time Boston College Eagles‘ captain was never exactly the biggest scorer at school, but did pocket 17 goals and 65 assists in 151 NCAA Division 1 games with a very accountable +26 rating.
He may not reach almost 1100 games in the big league like his New Jersey Devils’ General Manager dad, Tom Fitzgerald, but he still should be able to knock out a formidable career.
After 23 games with 3 assists and a -1 rating, he gets put on waivers to be reassigned, but Florida Panthers swoop in, seeing something in his game they want and claim his rights.
We can only watch to see how he fits into their lineup.
He only plays 4 games with the Cats, then 2 in the playoffs, but not good for any points.
They see something they can potentially use to move forward and sign him to a 1-year, 2-way deal in 2023/2024.
Reassigned for the entire frame to the affiliate, Charlotte Checkers, he does decently and is a very accountable +22 rating to pull down a new 2-year, 1-way in the 2nd contract with New York Rangers that may get him some playing time, but mostly he will be pivotal with Hartford Wolf Pack.
8th year defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere(41) leaves Philadelphia Flyers‘ nest for a 1st time, after 381 NHL games, scoring 60 goals and 159 assists.
The generously listed at 5’11” 180 lbs. blue liner was traded to Arizona Coyotes, as he still has two years left on his 6-year deal signed in 2017.
He has been always known to put up a lot of assists, culminating in his 4th season, where he had 52 helpers.
The 28-year old’s offense has ticked down in the last couple campaigns, but on this new team that has legs, we could see it move back up.
After a couple of trying years in the desert, the former 3-year Union College Bobcats gets himself a trade to a Stanley Cup contender for 2023, Carolina Hurricanes.
We are maybe a little surprised the unrestricted free agent didn’t sign to stay on, but jumps for a little more money than his last deal on a 1-year term for $4.125M with the constantly rebuilding Detroit Red Wings.
Well, looks like he heads back to Carolina on a 3-year, $3.2M AAV deal after posting a 2nd highest assist total at 46 last season.
Unrestricted 5th year free agent left wing Cameron Hughes(24) signs a 2-year 2-way deal with Seattle Kracken, getting him slightly closer to his Edmonton, AB home.
Originally a Boston Bruins‘ 6th round pick in the 2015 draft (#165 overall), he was with them through four seasons, scoring a career high 14 goals and 31 assists in 59 AHL games, serving as assistant captain for affiliate Providence Bruins last session.
The 5’11” 181 lbs. forward was senior captain at University Of Wisconsin Badgers, where he tallied 20+ assists as a sophomore and junior.
At just 25-years old with 2 games NHL experience to his resume, he could just be starting to come of age.
He blows up scoring with new career highs in goals, points and plus/minus rating for the affiliate Coachella Valley Firebirds, helping them to the Calder Cup Finals both seasons.
An unrestricted free agent, he signs a 1-year, 2-way deal with Dallas Stars, likely spotting a hole for some play at the higher level.
USNTDP 2nd year center Max Plante(10) is an assist scoring machine and it’s definitely spotted, as he is chosen by Detroit Red Wings in the 2nd round of the 2024 NHL draft (#47 overall).
The 5’11” 180 lbs. forward had a combined 69 assists last season.
From Hermanntown, MN, the 18-year old is likely ready to get to some college hockey at his commit, University Of Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs for 2024/2025.
10th year defenseman Jacob MacDonald(26) re-signs to return to Colorado Avalanche for 2024/2025 after just 1.5 seasons away.
The 6″ 205 lbs. blue liner made a 5 year climb from minor league contracts to where he is today.
From Portland, OR, the former Cornell University Big Red 31-year old is likely glad to be heading back to his team of 3.5 frames.
Big 6’3″ 183 lbs. defenseman Cameron Crotty(95) was an Arizona Coyotes‘ 3rd round pick in the 2017 draft (#82 overall), originally reassigned to start his pro career of Norway for Sparta Sarpsborg, scoring 3 assists in 7 Eliteserian games.
He returned at the beginning of the AHL season in February and has been skating games with affiliate Tuscon Roadrunners scoring, well, 3 assists in 25 games with a handy +5 rating.
What he may not score, he totally makes up for in the punishing accountability for opposing players.
After a disappointing suspension of the 2020 NCAA playoffs, the almost 22-year old would have headed into his senior year at Boston University but instead signed a three-year entry level deal to turn pro.
It may not take him too long in the minors to get a look from the big club.
He would take up his game, skating 2 seasons with the affiliate and this season has a very respectable 3 goals and 9 assists in 45 games with a +5 rating.
His play earns him an NHL look and he is recalled to play his debut, going 16 shifts for 10:03 ice time with 2 block shots, 4 hits and left the game with a -1 rating in a 4-2 loss.
At the end of his entry level deal, he is not retained and quickly signed by Minnesota Wild for 2024/2025.
10th year, former 2012 1st round NHL draft pick, defenseman Brady Skjei(86) switches up to only his 3rd team for 2024/2025, signing a 7-year deal worth some $7M AAV with another contender, Nashville Predators.
The 6’3″ 209 lbs. blue liner, scored a new career best 34 assists and 47 points last season.
He did 3 years at University Of Minnesota Golden Gophers before signing his 3-year entry level deal with the team that selected him, New York Rangers.
There’s little doubt his game really came together in the 4 years with Carolina Hurricanes.
The 30-year old is likely very far from finished, obviously.
